Investigating the factors creating a gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice from the viewpoint of students of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Introduction: The mismatch between theoretical training and clinical practice leads to a decline in the quality of clinical service. This study aimed to investigate the strategies which reduce the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice from the viewpoint of students. Methods: This Descriptive - cross - sectional study was performed in winter 2021 on 330 medical, nursing, midwifery, operating room and anesthesia students of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. The participants were selected through census sampling and the data were collected using a questionnaire with the focus on the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. The data were analyzed using statistical measures such as mean and standard deviation, along with t-tests and Pearson correlation coefficient at the inferential level. Results: In the areas under study, factors related to the students, educational planning and the instructors were ranked first to third respectively. Among the factors related to professors and instructors, “clinical experience of professors and instructors” (mean 2.50± 0.90), among the factors related to the students, “interest in the field of study” (mean 2.87 ± 0.88) and among the factors related to planning, “the specificity of the clinical curriculum” (mean 2.47± 0.92), were introduced as the most significant factors affecting the reduction of theoretical and practical knowledge of students. Conclusion: Numerous factors are effective in reducing the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge in medical education. Therefore, it is recommended that these factors be considered by education officials to educate medical students in the most optimal way.